Sunday shows: The governors are here

A slew of governors lead this weekend’s Sunday shows.

Fresh off his big speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Minnesota Gov. and 2012 GOP hopeful Tim Pawlenty will appear on “Meet the Press.”

{mosads}Pawlenty will surely face questions in a test of his readiness for a potential 2012 run, as conservatives mull his future as a leader of the Republican Party.

But some of Pawlenty’s gubernatorial colleagues will dominate the airwaves on “Fox News Sunday,” where Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm (Mich.) will face off against Republican Governors Association Chairman Haley Barbour (R-Miss.). ABC’s “This Week” will also pit California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) against Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D).

The appearances come as states’ top executives gather in Washington for a National Governors Association meeting, where a number of states’ priorites will be on the agenda.

But this weekend’s shows aren’t short on lawmakers, either.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will appear on Fox, where he’s sure to preview this week’s Senate vote on a jobs bill, as well as Thursday’s big White House summit on healthcare.

From the House side, two members of the House leadership in each party will square off. Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Chairman and Assistant to the Speaker Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) will square off against House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.).